Game Thread: Vancouver Whitecaps vs Portland Timbers [7:00p]

Greetings and salutations! Welcome to another year of Portland Timbers football and another season of coverage provided to you by the fine folks here at Stumptown Footy. As you may know, we’ve already played two matches and have advanced in the Concacaf Champions League. Now the Timbers are set to face one of the most storied sides in Liga MX — Club America. But that’s for another day.

Tonight, our boys in a green and gold head to Sandy, Utah. No, we’re not playing Real Salt Lake, but the Vancouver Whitecaps. Because of COVID and international travel, most of the Whitecaps home matches will take place at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Timbers helped them out last season, as the Whitecaps played home matches at Providence Park.

Will we see Sebastian Blanco tonight? If I were in charge — and I’m not — I would keep Blanco in my back pocket for now and let him keep getting healthier. But does Gio Savarese throw caution to the wind and start Blanco in the first match of what will be a long and grueling season? It’s possible. I hope not, but it’s possible.

If anything the Timbers have already shown us what they can do on the pitch. And let's be honest; we have two matches up against the Whitecaps, and I’m not sure there was enough improvement from the Caps over the offseason. Fredy Montero went back to the Sounders for crying out loud.

Tonight’s Line Up

Portland Timbers

Vancouver Whitecaps

Broadcast Info

Location: Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy Utah
Kick-Off: 7:00 pm
TV: ROOT SPORTS NORTHWEST
Radio: 750 The Game